Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-13
A REPRESENTATIVE FARM.
The Area and Production OF enc of Cali.
fornia,s Large Hol6irpa

A REPRESENTATIVE FARM.
The Area and Production OF enc of Cali
fornia's Large Holdings.
South of this place, between the Red
Bank and Thomes creeks including a
large number of streams, is the Gallatin
ranch. This is one of those princely prop
critics that is adding to the already great
reputation which Tehapaa county has for
being the home of successful and wealthy
men. This ranch contains $4,000 acres
and is another illustrious evidence of the
opportunities which California affords of
making great fortunes. This place is the
property of Albert Gallatin, the managing
partner IN the mercantile house of Hunt
ington, Hopkins IL Co., doing business in
Sacramento and San Francisco. 1t is
within few years only that Mr. Gallatin
commenced his business career, with no
other capital than brains and energy.
With these, in a legitimate business, with
no faint of speculation, Mr.. Gallatin has
been remarkably successful in accumula-
ting fortune and instead of locking it up
in bonds or other securities, has acquired
this great landed property, and is now en-
gagged in its development in thoroughly
intelligent and practical manner as dem
onstration of the fertility and capacity of
these rolling foothill soils.
An additional incentive to this great en-
terprise, doubtless, is the love of fine stock
of all kinds, which is a strong trait of his
character. He loves fine horses, whether
running, trotting or draft, and he admires
full-blooded cattle, sheep and swine To
introduce the best and most profitable
breeds of these animals, and thereby i'm
prove the stock Of the State, was another
object in view in this great landed pur-
chase The enterprise, though young in
years, has beenpushed with such vigor and
skill that there is now no reasonable
ground for doubt as 10 the ultimate sue
cess. In fact, Mr. Gallatin is now reaping
the results of his liberal and intelligent
investments. A full description of this
property would require more space than
this entire article occupies.
AREA AND SOIL.
The tract of land extends east and west
from a point seven miles west of the Sac
ramento, to the crest of the Coast Range.
1t includes red soil on the eastern border,
wide belt of clay loans through its whole
center, and the sloping uplands and heavy
timber of the Coast Range in the western
portion. There are many long, rich val
leys of light warm alluvium, we'll adapted
TO alfalfa, and there are gentle slopes and
round bluffs of clay loans, deep. rich and
lasting, in this tract These clay loans
are remarkably rich, and they are of mex
haustible fertility, being from six to twelve
feetdeep. This soil is much in character like
that of the foothills surrounding Lagunita,
Vaca and Pleasants valleys; like that at
the head of the Putah about Winters. and
at the head of Cache creek in the Capay
valley, all of which localities are SO cele-
brated Tor their grain, grass and fruit-bear-
ing capabilities. The improvement and
development of this property commenced
four years ago. Much of the land had to
be cleared and grubbed for the pillow at a
very considerable cost per acre. Now
more than fifteen thousand acres have
been cleared, and more than twenty thou
sand acres have been put under the plo W
One hundred and fifty miles of the best
wire fence have been built, and roads have
been laid out and constructed all through
the property.
COMPLETE INTERIOR FARMS.
Buildings for the accommodation of
renters, laborers and stock have been
built, costing in the aggregate tens of
thousands of dollars. There are at least
100 miles of highways on this place, and
some of the drives are picturesque beyond
description. The private roads of this
great ranch are without name or number.
There are more than dozen sets of COM
plete farm buildings on different parts of
the tract, each set embracing comfortable
iarm,houses, barns corrals, granaries, or
chards and vineyards There are 10000
acres that are used for the production of
hay and grain. As the system of summer
fallow is in use, the acreage in cereals this
season was somewhat over 10000 acres
1000 acres was in hay and 5000 in wheat
and barley. Although there was small
rainfall this year, much less than the
average, the crop was very good one.
The average yield of wheat was from %
to 23 bushels TO the acre, and the average
for barley was from % to 2S bushels. The
wheat of this place this season will
amount to more than $4,000 sacks, and at
the present prices will bring $l60,OOO.
Nearly 1000 tons Of grain hay have been
put up for feeding the fine stock of the
place.
SHEEP-RAIsING.
Mr.. Gallatin has now 10000 head of fine
wooled Spanish Merino sheep, which num-
ber is largely added to by natural increase,
and by purchase. 1t is his intention 10
run about $4,000 sheep on this place, and
on his mountain range. The plan adopted
by the Tehama sheep grazers is the same
as that pursued by the shepherds of Spain.
that is, the migratory plan. The valley
ranges are carefully preserved for winter
use, and the fiocks and herds are taken to
the high mountain ranges for summer pas
iurage. After the spring shearing, when
the vegetation is well started in the noun
tains, the stock is taken to the summer
ranges by slow and easy drives. These
summer ranges are along the clear noun
tain streams or by the mountain lakes,
which command unlimited grazing areas
outside. These ranges have an abundance
of bunch and other grasses, and thousand
kinds of shrubs and bushes for browsing.
The stock Is kept on the elevated ranges
till autumn, when it is brought back to the
winter grounds, where all the feed has
been reserved for winter use. The stubble
of the great wheat fields furnishes the best
of feed for two or three months. By this
system the stock is kept fat and thriving
summer and winter
OTHER LIVE STOCK.
In addition to the sheep Mr.. Gailatin
has between 1000 and 1000 head of cattle.
nearly all of which are either graded
Herefords or Durhams He has one of the
finest herds of herd-book Herefords on the
Pacific coast. They are from the choicest
imported herds of the East, and it is worth
visit to Tehama county to see them.
Ihey are grazed ON these rolling pastures.
on She native grasses. and not one of them
but sFould take prize at the Chicago fat
cattle shows.
There are also several hundred head of
orooo fnares, of good size and blood. from,
which road and draft horses are being
raised. For breeding road horses Ham.
bletonian blood is used. Tr. Gallatin is
ilso raising SSne mules In addition 10 the
sheep, horses. mules and cattle this nlace
s producing Poland-china hogs. For |
his purpose the best registered stock was |
'rought from the Eastern States and the !
esults are most satisfactory.
GRAIN AND yarTT GROWING.
H. 49,.